Privacy and security of our data have long been crucial considerations. At Apple, aware of these challenges, they are exploring several new solutions to protect the privacy of our device screens, especially the iPhone.
An additional security measure for certain environments
No matter how many protections an iPhone has, it’s inevitable that someone might see a person’s passcode. There’s no way to fully protect against this, and that’s precisely why cases of phone theft had recently been detected, where thieves observed the device’s access code before stealing it. This not only allows them access to the phone but also to sensitive and financial data stored within it.
The truth is, it’s our responsibility that nobody knows the code to our iPhone. We can avoid entering it in public thanks to Face ID or Touch ID, for example. Or simply be careful and cover the screen if we need to enter it, just as we would at an ATM or a store’s POS when entering a card PIN. And Apple is exploring another way to protect our privacy.
Among the solutions proposed by Apple, two recent patents stand out. The first, titled “Privacy Films for Curved Screens,” suggests a special screen coating that limits light emission in only one direction. This means that while the user in front of the screen can enjoy the device’s optimal quality and brightness, anyone trying to look from a side angle would see a blurry or completely obscured image.
The second patent, “Screens with Adjustable Viewing Angles,” is designed for flat screens and allows the user to adjust the screen’s viewing angle in real-time, acting as a privacy filter. This technology uses small adjustable slats or a liquid crystal element to restrict visibility from side angles, protecting the content displayed on the screen.
Although these technologies are still in the patent phase and may not be immediately integrated into products, they represent a significant advancement in Apple’s interest in increasing the privacy and security of our devices.
Apple’s research reflects that there’s always room for improvement in security and privacy. It’s crucial to safeguard personal information in an era where mobile devices are increasingly indispensable in our daily lives. As potential threats evolve, so should the protections. In this case, making our iPhone screen invisible to third parties becomes paramount.
